Improvement in steam-motors for propelling street-cars



Y W. s. SALISBURY.

Patented Sept. 16,1879.

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S. SALISBURY. Steam-Motor for Propelling Street-Cars.

No. 219,770. Patented Sept. 16,1879.

N4 PETERS. PHOTDJJYHDGRAFHER. WASHINGTON O C U NITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

wI BEas. sALIs'BnRY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-MOTORS FOR PROPELLING STREET-CARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 219,770, datedSeptember 16, 1879 application filed July 14, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILBER S. SALISBURY, of Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements inSteam-Motors for Propelling Street-Oars, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has for its object the arrangement of the propellingmechanism, including the self-feeding furnace and boiler, under the carand out of sight, in such a manner as to be under the controhof theengineer as completely as though placed on thcplatform of the car.

Heretoforc much difficulty has been experienced in utilizing theordinary street-car for self-propulsion, also the present street-rail,in consequence of too heavy and expensive machinery, resulting ingreaterwearing of the road-bed, which, consequently, required continualrepairs, and, furthermore, in occupying carrying-room, thereby lesseningthe traffic ordinarily secured.

. The object is to obviate the difficulty men: tioned in producing alight, safe, economical, noiseless, vaporless, smokeless, and handymachine, causeless of annoyance or hinder ance to the ordinary trafficof the streets, and practically applicable to the present streetcarwithout utilizing any of the present carryingroom or requiring anychange in. the construction of the car, and also to apply to cars onelevated railways.

To this end my invention consists in the arrangementof a reversiblerotary engine, and bevel-gearin g attached to the car-axles, whereby totransmit power for propelling a car in either direction.

It also consists in application of steamboiler, furnace, and water-tanksto the body of the car; and-itfinally consists in the particular detailsor subordinate arrangements of mechanism. a

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of referenceindicate like parts, {Figure 1 is a top-plan view of an ordinarystreet-car frame and truck with machinery.

ig. 2 is a bottom-plan. view of machinery as attached. Fig. 3 is, alongitudinal vertical side elevation, inpart sectional, showing themachinery in working position under the body of car. Fig. 4 is across-section, showing the arrangement of water-tanks and leverforoperating the engine. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section ofwater-tanks. Fig. 6 is an enlarged side View of bevel-gearing. Fig. 7shows an enlarged part-sectional viewof engine-frame with adjustableboxing. Fig. 8 is a view of the reverse end of same. Fig. 9 is a view ofclamp which is placed on each journal on either side of engine-frame.

A A are the trucks and floor-frame to an ordinary street-car. B is thefeeder to furnace. O is the body of furnace or firebox. D D is theboiler, without steam-dome, pipes, 860., (said boiler and furnace usedbeing subjectlnatter of a pending application.) E E are shells or drumswhich receive thehot gases and exhaust-steam from the boiler previous toletting them waste. F F are the split bevelwheels attached to thecar-axles. G G are the bevel-pinions, attached on each end of en gine.-shaft and gearing into the bevel-wheels. His a shaft to engine,extending equally either side, for the purpose shown. Iisareversiblerotary engine, supported upon the bars between the car-axles, asrepresented. J J are the supporting-bars, provided with v forked endsand adj ustable boxes for car-axle to work in. K K are split clamps orcollars fastened upon axles, to keep the supporting-bars J J in line. LL are the boxes for engine'shaft to play through, and are attachedto thesup porting-bars. M M are flexible exhaust-pipes, and connect the enginewith boiler and exhaust-nozzles, as shown. N N are connecting flues orpipes for transmitting the gases between the boiler D and drums O O arethe pipes for the escape of the hot gases to top of car to waste. P isthe working-lever for operating engine in stopping orstarting the car.It is the connecting-rod from lever to engine. S S are theexhaust-blowers. T is the steam-pipe connecting both water-tanks on top,also to the engine and boiler. Y V are the water-supply tanks, placedinside of drums E E, and so arranged that the waste gases and exhaustupon enteringsaid drums will pass underneath the water-tanks, tliatthereby the units of heat may become more completely absorbed by thefeed-water before letting the hot gases escape. W is the feed-waterpipe, connecting both water-tanks at the bottom, and leading to theboiler.

a a are supporting-hangers; d, throttlevalve for filling up tank; 0,throttle-valve for shutting off feed-water between tanks and boiler.

The operation of the moter is as follows: To charge the apparatus withwater may be done direct from a hydrant or tank by means of a suitableconnection with pipe at valve d. By this means water enters the tanks VV and boiler D at the same time by the way of pipe W until they arefull, which is determined by a suitable overflow-pipe attached. Thenvalve 0 on pipe W is closed, thereby preventing further admission of anywater to the boiler. Next fire up in furnace 0. As soon as well started,fill up feeder B with hard coal. The products of combustion are drawnalong the bottom of boiler from the furnace, and pass through the pipesN N to the bottom of drums E E; thence out at the top part of theopposite end, and, by the means of pipes O O, finally to top of the car,where they are let 0.

ifs will be seen, when the steampipe T is connected from boiler to topof feed-tanks there is equal pressure on them all, and, by virtue of thehot gases passing through said drums, they become to a great extentabsorbed by the means of the feed-water tanks before passing out, thus,having my feedwater at boiler-pressure, I have only to open valve 0 torecharge the boiler. Then close the valve 0 and shut off steam from thetop of tanks by the throttle-valve, and let the steam then remaining inthe tanks escape until the pressure is gone; then recharge the tanksfull again. By this process no pump or injector is required to feed theboiler.

In the act of throwing the lever P over I start the engine. In bringingsame to an erect position it stops the engine. Then, passing over to theopposite side, it reverses the engine, and, by virtue of saidbevel-gearing attached to either axle, I have perfect control instopping, starting, or backing up, thus doing away with the usualbrakes, the engine being all-sufficient for the purpose.

It is quite apparent that, whereas the boiler being full of water, itwould deter the working of the engine, which would be the case in anyother form of engine; now, with the reversible rotary engine used by me,I have no difficulty, as has been repeatedly shown in actual trial witha full-sized working machine, the engine being always ready to start atany point, and without opening the usual petcocks to let out the water.

By the invention set forth herein 1 have accomplished the followingresults, such mode constituting new and valuable improvements in the artof steam-railroad engineering: First, in the use of a furnace orfire-box separated from the boiler sufficient to prevent the too intenseheat coming in direct contact with the boiler while combustion is inprogress, and not allowing any water to come in contact with thefurnace, more perfect combustion is secured, with economy in fuel, andperfect safety should the water be low in the boiler. In various trialsmade I have charged the boiler full of water, and run until there wasnot two pails of water that could be blown out, while the coal in thefurnace was at a white heat, and by reversing the engine while underfull headway have come to a full stop suddenly, and then started with afull open throttle at one hundred and twenty pounds steam pressure. Noincrease pressure was shown, as the result would have been if any partof the boiler becomes overheated, as the motion of the car in stoppingsuddenly would cause the water to surge rapidly over the surface.Second, in the manner of dividing my exhaust-pipes, and the use of thefour blowers in the four connecting-pipes between the boiler and drums,as shown, I secure important results by drawing the products ofcombustion along the bottom of boiler from the furnace, and at theirpoint of exit they heat the pipes, into which the blowers are attached,and aid in drying the exhauststeam, and in the exhaust commingling withthe said gases in further passage through pipes aforesaid it quitedestroys the ofl'ensiveness arising from the carbonic-acid gas. Whenfinally let go no exhaust-steam or gases are visible, thereby completelygetting rid of the exhaust. Also, in the arrangements of the water-tanksand outside drums for passing the exhaust and hot gases through, I heatthe feed-water, and by a non-conducting covering it aids to deaden thesound of the exhaust-blowers quite effectually. I can use a lower boilerthan by any other plan. As the boilers are made from wroughtiron pipe,and testedby hydrostaticpressure at from six hundred pounds to onethousand three hundred and fifty pounds per square inch, I combineabsolute safety with lightness. Also, by the use of the reversiblerotary engine and bevel-gearing, as set forth, I provide for the motionrequisite for play to axles and boxes while passing around curves.

1 claim- 1. The combination, substantially as described, in a railroadstreet-car, of a reversible rotary engine, boiler, self-feeding furnace,and operating mechanism, all constructed and arranged under the car,substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with a street-car carrying a boiler and engine, afire-box, and a furnace separated from the boilers to prevent the toointense heat coming in direct contact with the boiler while combustionis in progress.

3. In combination withastreet-car propelled by steam-power, thearrangement of the watertanks Vand outside drums E,for the purposesstated.

4. The combination, in a street-railroad car, of a furnace or fire-boxseparated from the boiler and not surrounded by-water, two ex- Also, bythe aforesaid arrangements haust-pipes, S S, with twoblowers in each,located' at the bottom of the boiler, in the exitpassage, for drawingthe gases from the furnace, the longitudinal connecting-pipes N N, andheating-drums E E, arranged substantially as described, and for thepurposes set forth.

5; In a street-railroad car, the feed-water tanks V V, inclosed by thedrums E E, and

connected by steam-pipe T at the top and water-supply pipe W at thebottom, in combination with the boilerD and pipes NN, for heating thefeed-Water and deadening the sound of the exhaust, substantially as setforth.

WILBER S. SALISBURY.

' Witnesses:

G. E. KREMER,

WILLIAM ARMSTRONG.

